Post by patrickm on Oct 22, 2011 10:58:37 GMT -6
Talking last night with Paulie and Jason about the Crab Nebula and supernova SN 1054 that created it. That supernova was so bright that it was visible for 23 DAYS during daylight & 353 days at night with the naked eye. Thinking about that freaks me out. 8-o
Last night at the excellent CA party, I was also talking with people about the sun going red giant, planetary nebula formation, and our inevitable collision with Andromeda Galaxy. So this morning, instead of sleeping, cuz really who needs it, I was thinking about what was the next likely close event that we might actually be around to see. My first thought was Betelgeuse. Red giant. Relatively close. What's the deal? Well, here 'tis:
"Like many of the stars in Orion, Betelgeuse probably formed a few million years ago from the molecular clouds observed in the constellation. Betelgeuse is a member of the 'Orion OB1 Association,' where massive young stars with over 10 times the sun's mass can be found in abundance. Betelgeuse may only be around six million years old, but has evolved rapidly because of its large mass. Massive stars use their fuel quickly and do not live very long. Betelgeuse has already run out hydrogen at its core, and is fusing helium into carbon and oxygen. From theory, its initial mass should have fallen somewhere between 12 and 17 times the Sun's. If Betelgeuse only contains 12 to 14 solar masses, it may become one of the exceedingly rare neon-oxygen white dwarfs.
However, it is more likely that Betelgeuse contains 15 to 17 solar masses. If this is so, then eventually the star will fuse higher elements - neon, magnesium, sodium, and silicon - all the way to iron. It will then collapse and explode as a Type II supernova, leaving behind a compact neutron star about the size of a small town. Some astronomers believe that, considering its size and apparent age, Betelgeuse may explode within the next thousand years - or may have done so already! At its relatively close distance of 425 light years, Betelgeuse's supernova would cause a gamma ray burst large enough to damage Earth's ecosystem if its rotational axis were pointed toward the Earth. (Fortunately, it is not.) But a Betelgeuse supernova would be seen easily in full daylight, and outshine the Moon in the night sky."
{Taken from SkySafari.app and adapted from STARS by Jim Kaler, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, University of Illinois.}
Surprised to learn it is so huge and so young for an "older" stage star. I am thankful that the majority of its ejecta won't smack us head on. It would cement Orion's status as Coolest Constellation.
As always, look to the skies. Your chances of witnessing a Betelgeuse supernova are better than winning the lottery.
Last night at the excellent CA party, I was also talking with people about the sun going red giant, planetary nebula formation, and our inevitable collision with Andromeda Galaxy. So this morning, instead of sleeping, cuz really who needs it, I was thinking about what was the next likely close event that we might actually be around to see. My first thought was Betelgeuse. Red giant. Relatively close. What's the deal? Well, here 'tis:
"Like many of the stars in Orion, Betelgeuse probably formed a few million years ago from the molecular clouds observed in the constellation. Betelgeuse is a member of the 'Orion OB1 Association,' where massive young stars with over 10 times the sun's mass can be found in abundance. Betelgeuse may only be around six million years old, but has evolved rapidly because of its large mass. Massive stars use their fuel quickly and do not live very long. Betelgeuse has already run out hydrogen at its core, and is fusing helium into carbon and oxygen. From theory, its initial mass should have fallen somewhere between 12 and 17 times the Sun's. If Betelgeuse only contains 12 to 14 solar masses, it may become one of the exceedingly rare neon-oxygen white dwarfs.
However, it is more likely that Betelgeuse contains 15 to 17 solar masses. If this is so, then eventually the star will fuse higher elements - neon, magnesium, sodium, and silicon - all the way to iron. It will then collapse and explode as a Type II supernova, leaving behind a compact neutron star about the size of a small town. Some astronomers believe that, considering its size and apparent age, Betelgeuse may explode within the next thousand years - or may have done so already! At its relatively close distance of 425 light years, Betelgeuse's supernova would cause a gamma ray burst large enough to damage Earth's ecosystem if its rotational axis were pointed toward the Earth. (Fortunately, it is not.) But a Betelgeuse supernova would be seen easily in full daylight, and outshine the Moon in the night sky."
{Taken from SkySafari.app and adapted from STARS by Jim Kaler, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy, University of Illinois.}
Surprised to learn it is so huge and so young for an "older" stage star. I am thankful that the majority of its ejecta won't smack us head on. It would cement Orion's status as Coolest Constellation.
As always, look to the skies. Your chances of witnessing a Betelgeuse supernova are better than winning the lottery.